Personal and freight mobility are important aspects of economic development and therefore create a significant footprint on the natural environment, especially on the ambient air quality. Vehicular emissions have been identified as one of the sources of air pollutants, specially PM 2.5, as per source apportionment study of IIT-Kanpur commissioned by Government of NCT of Delhi in the year 2015 (Sharma and Dikshit, 2016). Although there are other contributors to air pollution but the vehicular pollution remains a major non-point source. Efforts are needed for reducing the overall impact of the same. Another distinguishing feature of Delhi’s transportation system is the medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCVs) which are 2.5% of the total vehicular population but are responsible for over 65% of the total vehicular pollution as well as fuel consumption.

Under CII-NITI Aayog 'Cleaner Air Better Life Initiative', the task force on clean transportation has undertaken a consultative process to identify seven areas of action towards mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and
National Capital Region (NCR). To begin with, it proposes mobility reforms to induce a more fundamental change from private vehicle towards sustainable means of transportation such as public and shared transportation. Further, limiting high-mileage polluting vehicles, strengthened Pollution-Under-Control (PUC) regime, allowing retailing of bio-fuels, promoting electric-mobility, decongesting traffic hotspots and retrofitting solutions are recommended by the task force.

The Report on Task Force on Clean Transportation highlights an inclusive approach to the initiative and puts forth a recommended action plan covering the different aspects of clean transportation. It was released by Shri Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog on 26 February 2018 in New Delhi.